Training Contract with Vacation Scheme

At VWV, we know that becoming a solicitor is about more than just excellent legal training; it's about feeling supported, challenged, and inspired as you grow.

Our Trainee Solicitor programme is designed to give you real responsibility from the start, with opportunities to work closely with experienced lawyers on meaningful matters that make a real difference to our clients.

We're looking for people who are curious, collaborative and eager to learn. In return, we'll provide structured development, in a culture where you'll feel valued as an individual. With us, you'll gain the skills, confidence and experience to shape a career you're proud of.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what some of our current trainees have to say about life at VWV:

"Trainees at VWV are really well supported and given a good level of responsibility on interesting client facing work"

"I've had meaningful responsibility on matters as a trainee, including handling client contact and delivering key pieces of work, creating the perfect environment to develop my skills and build my confidence"

What does the recruitment process look like? Application Deadline:

The deadline for submitting your online application form is 9th January

Online Assessment:

Once you've submitted your application, eligible candidates will be invited to complete a short bespoke, data-driven assessment. This is designed to help us better understand your strengths, behaviours, and mindset. It's not a traditional test but a way for us to gain insight into your potential for success in a legal career.

Video Presentation:

After completing the assessment, successful candidates will receive an invitation to deliver a live presentation via Microsoft Teams. This will be your chance to demonstrate your motivations, communication skills and thought processes, followed by a discussion with a member of our Talent team. You'll receive full details and guidance on what to prepare ahead of time.

Assessment Centre:

If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to an assessment centre at either our London office (19th March) or Bristol office (11th or 17th March).

Vacation Scheme:

Successful candidates will then be invited to participate in a vacation scheme and interview at their preferred office in June.

Offers:

Training contract offers will be extended shortly after the vacation scheme concludes.

What's involved in the Training Contract itself?

Your two-year training contract will be varied and hands on, offering you the opportunity to experience four different practice areas, with each seat lasting six months. Our diverse practice areas include Real Estate, Private Client, Charity Law and Governance, Corporate, Regulatory Compliance, and Employment. You'll be supervised by an experienced solicitor in each seat, and our Early Talent team will be there to provide additional support throughout your journey to qualification.

Your training contract experience will involve:

• Engaging with high-profile cases and clients, providing practical legal advice.
• Attending client meetings, drafting documents, and gaining real-world legal skills.
• Collaboration with colleagues from different departments and offices to deepen your commercial understanding.

In addition, you'll receive ongoing support from your trainee cohort, including a buddy from an earlier cohort, and quarterly knowledge-sharing sessions. This will be a chance for all trainees to gather, exchange insights, and connect with the wider firm. And of course, there's always time to socialise and build lasting connections.

Why choose us?

There are so many reasons to stop and explore us further. We're known for our friendly and welcoming culture where teamwork and collaboration is key. We invite you to watch this short video on the right hand side to see what our own people have to say about us and, in the words of one of our current trainees: "Everyone is incredibly friendly and want to support you in doing your best. You feel like a valued team member and that your work is making a difference"

We're committed to making your experience as rewarding as possible. If you haven't started your SQE or LPC, we'll sponsor you to study an LLM in Legal Practice (SQE1 & 2) at the University of Law, along with a £4,000 grant. If you've already completed the LPC we still welcome your application and may even offer you the chance to start your training contract early.

We're striving to create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of background, can reach their full potential. If you require any special adjustments to be made in order to be considered for this role, whether in the recruitment process as part of your training contract, please get in touch as we're happy to make the necessary adjustments and allowances.

Who are we hoping will apply?

Training to be a solicitor is academically challenging, so we'll be looking for good academic results. If you're a non-law graduate, you will need to have completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) or other conversion course before starting the LLM (SQE1 & 2) but you are welcome to apply without one.

Although legal experience is not required, any paralegal work or relevant commercial experience will help you demonstrate your commercial awareness. We value all kinds of experiences (whether legal or not, paid or not) so don't hesitate to share your story with us and discuss those transferable skills.

We're looking for individuals who are passionate about commercial law, and who share our core values of teamwork, client focus, and a commercial approach. If you're adaptable, resilient, and eager to make a difference, then you're the kind of candidate we'd love to hear from.

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